Climate Talks Are On Brink Of Collapse As Anger Rises Against Qatari Hosts

Climate change: Anger is growing against the host country
of Qatar, which has the largest carbon footprint in the world per
person, for failing to take action on climate change and cut its
emissions.

U.N. climate change talks are at risk of collapse tonight as
developing nations object to the refusal of Arab nations to cut
carbon emissions and to the failure of Western nations to come
forward with money for adaptation to global warming.

Britain could be forced to dramatically increase its cuts to
carbon emissions in order to secure a deal if other countries are
unwilling to compromise.

Two activists were thrown out of the United Nations talks in
Doha, the capital, after attempting to hold up a banner outside
the main meeting hall. It called on the tiny oil state to show
leadership and cut its emissions.

Developing nations are also angry that the rich world has not
come forward with money for climate change adaptation.

They want $60bn (£37bn) over the next three years to switch to
greener forms of energy and protect against floods and drought.

Although the U.K. has pledge £2bn over the next two years, other
countries, including the United States, have not put any money on
the table beyond 2013.

Environmentalists are angry that the world has made no further
progress on agreeing on targets to cut carbon emissions.

The EU has said it will sign up targets as part of a second
commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. But this is impossible
until the bickering group of countries decide how to divide up
cuts in carbon.

One option on the table would mean the U.K. may have to up its
current emissions targets from 34 per cent by 2020 to 42 per
cent.

Meanwhile most of the rest of the developed world has not even
put forward any new targets to cut carbon emissions.

There is particular anger towards the countries in the Arab
world, that many believed would come forward with ambitious
targets during the first U.N. conference to be held in the Middle
East.

However, Qatar has only announced a new research centre on
climate change and no new targets. While it emits a large amount
of carbon dioxide due to gas flares from oil extraction, it is
treated as a developing nation and has not been subjected to
curbs on emissions as developed nations have.

Ali Fakhry, of the Arab Youth Climate Movement, an organisation
set up in the wake of the Arab spring, said it will be a
“disgrace” if the talks fail to reach an agreement in Doha.

“We are starting to believe that hosting the meeting was green
wash and PR,” he said.

“It is time for Qatar to take the lead and ensure the
negotiations do not collapse.”

The talks, which are scheduled to finish this Friday, are widely
expected to go into the weekend. They may have to reconvene in
months if a deal is not struck.

As ministers take over from negotiators in an attempt to drive a
deal, Greg Barker, the U.K. Climate Change Minister, said
pressure is growing on Qatar.

“Clearly now is the time for the Arab regions to step up to the
plate and show leadership to bring this meeting to a successful
conclusion. The clock is ticking and there are concerns in the
least-developed countries about finance and mitigation. We
desperately need more countries to take action.”

It will be a severe embarrassment to Qatar, which is attempting
to grow its stature in the world and which will host the World
Cup in 2022, if the talks fail.

Naderev Sano, chief negotiator for the Philippines, joined a
civil society protest against a weak deal after reportedly
bursting into tears during a plenary in frustration.

He said hundreds of thousands of people in his own country are
already suffering from floods and storms caused by climate
change.

“Based on what we have seen so far and with less than 48 hours to
go, a successful ambitious outcome is not in sight," he said.

Mohamed Adow, Christian Aid's senior climate change adviser, said
he had never seen such outrage at a U.N. meeting.

“The Doha outcome must be both responsive to the scientific need
for action and fair to developing countries which didn't cause
this problem but are suffering the most severe effects.”

The two activists led out of the conference centre by U.N. police
were believed to be from Libya and Algeria and part of the League
of Independent Activists.